It is so fascinating to read this, knowing that when it was first published that there was no DNA evidence that tied Thomas Jefferson to Sally Hemings. Gordon-Reed's exhaustive style of looking down every possible avenue from every possible angle works much better here for me than her other book, The Hemingses of Monticello: An American Family. The length of this made that style feel more manageable and I was able to follow the threads better, as well as being a bit more interested in her detective work in this text. While both books are critical reads if you are interested in this topic/time period, The Hemingses works much better as a written text while this flowed fine on audio.

An incisive critique of the Jefferson historiography concerning the alleged 38-year affair between Jefferson and Sally Hemings, a slave at Monticello. Gordon-Reed builds her case against the white-supremacist-laden arguments of the Jefferson apologist encampment. An expert model for historians on how to address evidence (source material). The organization made for a convincing argument, but a lackluster story.

Was Thomas Jefferson—the country's esteemed third president, the author of the Declaration of Independence, and the founder of the University of Virginia—the father of four children by his slave mistress Sally Hemings?

Thanks to DNA testing in 1998, the answer is most likely yes. In fact, it's so likely that the Thomas Jefferson Foundation at Monticello has confirmed Jefferson and Hemings were lovers and had four children together.

But back up a bit. This book, an extraordinary piece of scholarship by attorney and Harvard Law/history professor Annette Gordon-Reed, was published in 1997 before the DNA testing. It is a deep dive and thorough examination of the documentary evidence—from letters, newspaper articles, oral histories, and records kept by Jefferson—to determine the answer to the question that has burned in the minds of many for generations.

It's a question that fell largely into a racial divide: Aristocratic Southern whites, as well as some esteemed historians and biographers, could not fathom that one of their own would have a decades-long sexual relationship with a black woman that had to be grounded in love since it lasted so long. And they have done what they can to hide a truth, rather than better understand it. This took some mental gymnastics at times. But the Hemings family and their descendants thought differently based on their family history and stories.

Gordon-Reed's skill at legal argument is on full display as she takes each piece of evidence from both sides and considers its validity—or not. While reading this, I often felt as if I were seated in a courtroom listening to her argue before judge and jury, and at times her tone is strident and scolding.

Just know this: While the book really is a fascinating, scholarly read, it consistently gets bogged down in the minutiae—so much so that it becomes a bit of a slog in places.

In this work Gordon-Reed, a Harvard Educated Lawyer, is looking at each piece of evidence about the paternity of Sally Hemming’s children and determining WHY previous scholars either accepted it as true or false. For example, why is the oral history of slaves less believable then the oral history of whites [especially when those white relatives have a strong reason to lie, which DNA testing has subsequently shown they did.] Excellent research and critique of the implicit assumptions and biases, prejudices and glaring -even deliberate - blind spots of prior historians of the Jefferson story. Her work is well-structured, analytical and thorough. Her arguments are sensible and convincing written in clear prose and sharp reasoning, making this an extremely compelling and thought provoking book.

Note, it was written in 1997 before any DNA testing at which point “everyone” (IE white historians) agreed that one of the Carr brothers was the father. Now that DNA testing has proved a relation to the Jefferson line, some “scholars” are bending over backwards now saying that it was Jefferson brother, who was never suggested in the past 200 years.

From The Conclusion:
"I have trid to approach the writing of scholars and commentators on the subject of Thomas Jefferson and Sally Hemings as through their considerations represent serious attempts to get at the truth of the story ... And, to measure their commitment to ferreting out the truth, how did they respond to information that tended to favor the side to which they may have been personally opposed? ...
The failure to look more closely into the identities of the parties involved, the too ready acceptance and the active promotion of the Carr brothers' story, the reliance upon stereotypes in the place of investigation and analysis, all indicate that most Jefferson Scholars decided from the outset that this story was not true and that if they had anything to do with it, no one would come to think otherwise. In the most fundamental sense, the enterprise of the defense has had little to do with expand people's knowledge of Thomas Jefferson or the other participants int he story. The goal has been quite the opposite: to restrict knowledge as a way of controlling the allowable discourse on this subject.

A somewhat different approach to examining historical evidence, the author uses her lawyer background to consider and for the most part, refute the rebuttals of historians who have argued against a Jefferson-Hemmings relationship. This is a good book on the topic. Information in the Founding Brothers and John Adams’ biography substantiates several of her observations and indicates that she is knowledgeable about Jefferson.

1/2 tI read it in class. BORING. Who cares if TJefferson slept with/had children with his slave? He wasn't the first, he won't be the last, and just because he's a 'founding father' doesn't mean he's a demi-god.

The book opens with the talking about the DNA evidence that was found after this book was first published. Essentially putting all the arguments the book originally presented to rest. The DNA evidence established a descendant that is genetically linked to the Jefferson family and not to the Carr family (who were the main men historians have traditionally linked with fathering Sally Hemings children). This, along with the entirety of the arguments presented here in this book make me almost 100% sure that Thomas Jefferson did have a 38-year relationship with Sally Hemings and made continuing to read this book feel like a waste of time.

A lot has changed in the past 30 years on this subject and although the book appears to be well researched for its time, it's old news.

Addresses the many biographies on Jefferson and their attempts to ignore or discredit the Hemingses' claim of paternity to Jefferson. Convinced me the rumors are true.

Well researched and eloquently stated. Dense argument that TOTALLY makes her case. If it's a topic that interests you, it's a must read.

An excellent book, looking at the oral testimonies of Madison Hemings and Thomas Jefferson's white relations, rather than providing an imbalanced account from either side, which had hitherto been the case.

Since its release, DNA evidence proved that Thomas Jefferson had fathered at least one of Sally Hemming's children, and scholars are now in agreement that their relationship spanned a 38-year period.

Here, pre-DNA tests, Gordon-Reed seeks to redraw the balance in America's 'white' and 'black' historical interpretations, and she does so with aplomb.

I was a little disappointed by this work. Many facts but not much of a story. Still, I think highly of the author and will continue to read her books.

Wasn't as interesting as I thought it would be.